This is unlikely. Scientist don't view this as a valid scientific endeavor. Scientists spend their time working on scientific projects. They are not in any way in the religion business. You criticized others for throwing out nonsensical facts but the notion that science is some how providing proof that God doesn't exist or even trying too is an equally false narrative.
There are many who engage in arguments regarding creation vs origins and but that is philosophy not science and 100% speculative. It is okay to be imaginative and try to think of possible explanations for the origins of the universe or life on our planet but we shouldn't be dogmatic about these concepts or mistake them as being scientific. We may as well believe in Star Trek science. Very creative and imaginative and sometimes succeeds in foreshadows future technologies but it is theater.
Edit: Oh My Goodness I did it again! I can't seem to help myself. This thread is about what it takes to be saved!
I started this thread because I have been frustrated in my life and feel like prayer has not helped me change my course. So the very real question, and I believe is a very real question for many, many people, is what does it really take to be saved? Or are we wasting our time? Not because God does or doesn't exist but because our understand of God isn't right, or our understanding of salvation, or our wants being out of align with Gods priorities.
What is Gods true nature? Does God operate as a ruler, who doles out blessings as He sees fit? Is God simply an observer or an active participant in peoples lives? If I am dead in sin can I be blamed for not seeking God in the right way? If nothing changes, why? If there is no evidence of salvation then how do we know we are saved?
I think there is a great deal of confusion on this topic. In this thread, acknowledged believers have both supported and refuted predestination.
If we are all reading the same book why are there some many doctrinal and conceptual differences?
Special thanks to Paul and Hazelelponi for their scriptural knowledge and detailed and well conceived posts. And they both appear to be in agreement.
Thank you!
I believe Paul and I are largely in agreement on most aspects of scripture - but I believe our respective views on freewill are different.
The reason you see these types of differences is because you can find scriptural verses that support both ideas.
The issue many people face is how and where do they come together, and in what manner.
I believe, as many other reformers do, that they meet in compatiblism.
Compatibilism | Monergism
^^ link to explanation..
I DO believe that the acceptance of Christ as Lord is an act of our will, however, it's not a libertarian freewill - not uninfluenced by Gods will and His choosing. But we do make the choice.
Some people prefer to explain salvation then in terms of choice, because we do make a voluntary choice... Others see the need to emphasize predestination, because it's definitely presented in the Bible this way.
But it's a concept that is more difficult to grasp, people can go to extremes with any single concept. You can end up with antinomianism, or people not even making the first step in their wills.
However there are extremes in freewill to, it's how you get this superficial doctrine that tells you all you need is to "ask Jesus into your heart" a concept not even in the Bible.
The fact is, some of these concepts ARE more difficult to grasp, and it takes time to learn them accurately and even scholars can disagree...
I understood the Christian God long before I could grasp the concept of Jesus's death on the cross...
Often what brought us to Christ in the first place can make concepts like freewill and predestination more difficult still. If you have a true saving faith and you saw your own salvation as a matter of your choice, predestination is going to be more difficult, if you came to Christ by Christs will and you know it, it's more difficult to see where voluntary choice came into play..
So there are some disagreements, but it doesn't mean the answers aren't there. The goal ultimately is to accurately present the Gospel to the lost...